Adjustable scaffold support



Jan. 10, 1961 c. L. BYBEE ETAL ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Filed Dec. 6, 1957 CHHPLES' 1/. 7452/65,

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Charles L. Bybee, 741 E. Bonnie Brae Court, Ontario, 25%., and Charles L. Vance, 549 N. 2nd Ave., Upland,

Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 701,170

6 Claims. (Cl. 182184) This invention relates generally to scaffolding equipment; more particularly, it relates to adjustable scaffold supports for adapting scaffolding for use on uneven supporting surfaces.

Many types of scaffolding equipment have been known in the prior art. Prior scaffold devices have had certain general disadvantages and shortcomings which have restricted their utility, particularly with respect -to their adaptability for use on uneven supporting surfaces and with respect to ease and convenience of assembling and disassembling for temporary use. The latter are important considerations when scaffolding is used in such activities as painting or plastering. Scaflolding which is utilized in outside work must be capable of providing a level platform surface while resting upon uneven ground surfaces or while different supporting legs rest upon objects of different heights. Scaffolding which is utilized for work of relatively short duration must be adapted for relatively rapid and convenient assembly, adjustment, and disassembly. This is particularly important in view of the high labor costs which are encountered when the scaffolding equipment utilized is not thus adapted. It is desirable that scaffolding equipment he adjustable to accommodtte various dimensions of platforms, and that the equipment be readily and conveniently adjustable for tl.is purpose.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide new and improved scaffolding apparatus which alleviate certain disadvsntages and limitations of the prior art, such as those indicated briefly above.

' An object of this invention is the provision of an adjustable scaffold support which readily ad-pts scaffolding equipment for use on uneven supporting surfaces.

It is an object of this invention to provide scaffold supports which are :dapted for quick and convenient assembly and disafsembly.

An object of the present invention is the provision of adjustable scaffold supports of light weight and economical construction.

Other objects and features of the present invention, as well as many advantages thereof, will become apparent to tho e skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing adjustable scaffold supports according to the present invention in assembled relation to form a complete adjustable scaffold;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the adjustable scaffold support of this invention. A complete adjustable scaffold 10 utilizes two adjustable scaffold supports 12 which secure a platform or plank 14 by a clamping means 16 which is disposed at the top of each of the supports 12. Although supports 12 may be utilized with various types of planks, platforms or boards, it is preferred that a platform of the type shown be utilized, because its longitudinal tubular reinforcements combine strength and rigidity with light weight.

Each of the clamping means 16 includes a first elongated U-shaped vise jaw 18 and a second elongated U- shaped jaw 20. These jaws have their lower sides 22 in mutual sliding engagement. An elongated opening or slot 23 is provided for a purpose which is explained hereinbelow. Brackets 24 on U-shaped jaws 18 and 20 are adapted for threaded engagement of a lead screw 26 in appropriate threaded openings 28 in the brackets. A crank handle 30 is attached to one end of lead screw 26 to provide means for selectively rotating the lead screw to position the U-shaped jaws for accommodating various widths of platforms.

Leg sleeves 32 are secured as by welding to lower side 22 of elongated jaw 20, as shown in Figure 2. Each leg sleeve 32 has a relatively wide portion defining a wide cavity portion 34 and is provided with shoulders, as shown in Figure 4, from which extend channel walls 35. A T-shaped longitudinal cavity is thus provided and includes an open channel portion 38.

Each leg sleeve has an end opening 36 for accommodating lower leg means in the form of a leg ratch 40. The leg ratch is slidably positioned within the cavity 34 and extends through the open channel 38 so that an edge 42 having teeth 44 thereon extends through the open channel in such a manner that the teeth are disposed outside of the leg sleeve, as shown. The configuration of each tooth 44 is such that, when the leg ratch is at operative position, a surface of the tooth is horizontally disposed to permit vertical loading of the tooth. The leg ratch has a generally T-shaped cross-sectional configuration which is adapted to fit within cavity 34.

From te foregoing description, it will be understood that leg sleeve 32 serves as a retainer and bearing for the leg ratch which is slidably positioned therein.

A latch device 46 is disposed on the lower end of each leg sleeve 32. Each latch includes parallel wall portions 48 which extend from channel walls 35 and are bent and joined at their outer ends to form a latch housing. A pivot pin 50 is mounted in appropriate openings in the wall portions and has rotatably mounted thereon a pawl 52, an extension 54 of which is adapted to engage a tooth 44 of the leg ratch, as shown in Fig. 3. A lug 56 on the pawl retains an end of a helical spring 58, the other end of which is retained by extensions 60 formed on a wall portion 48. The spring urges the pawl into engagement with the teeth 44 of the leg ratch. A lever 62 extends outwardly from the latch and is pivotally mounted thereon by means of a rotatably mounted pin 63. Links 64 interconnect the lever with the pawl 52. These elements permit an operator to disengage the pawl from the teeth of the leg ratch against the resilient urging of helical spring 58.

Improved structural rigidity is provided by reinforcement webs 66 which are secured as by welding between the leg sleeves and U-shaped jaw 20. Improved rigidity of the leg sleeves is provided by a bracket member 70 which is disposed between the leg sleeve of each adjustable support. Ground-engaging feet 72 are provided on the lower end of the leg ratches.

In using the adjustable scaffold supports of the present invention, a platform 14 is secured between the clamping means of two adjustable scaffold supports, one support,

tion of jaw 18 relative to jaw 20 is adjusted by means of crank 30 and lead screw 26 to accommodate the width of the platform. The jaws are tightened against the platform to provide a relatively rigid integral structure. The entire scafiolding assembly is positioned at the location where it is to be used. The length of each leg is adjusted for the height of the ground or the height of the supporting structure at the particular point. This is accomplished by disengaging pawl 52 from the teeth of the ratch by means of the lever 62, as by the exertion of the foot of an operator. The leg ratch, thus disengaged from the leg sleeve, falls into contact with the ground or supporting surface. Lever 62 is then released and spring 58 causes the pawl to re-engage the ratch teeth to secure the leg ratch in position. From the foregoing description, it will be understood that each leg of the scaffold support is adjusted quickly and conveniently to accommodate the height of the ground or supporting structure under each leg. It will also be understood that the platform is thereby solidly supported in horizontal position regardless of the sloping or unevenness of the supporting surface. It is to be understood that the apparatus of this invention readily accommodates platforms of differing widths as well as uneven supporting surfaces.

Those versed in the art to which this invention pertains will realize that a variety of different variations of the elements herein shown and described may be utilized. For example the leg ratches and leg sleeves may be adapted for sliding engagement by means of different cross-sectional configurations than the one shown in the drawing. Certain variations may be made in the latch structure shown and described herein, as well as in the details of the lead screw arrangement for effecting a viselike action of the U-shapcd jaws. However, the elements shown and described are considered to be effective for the purposes of this invention and are considered to be relatively simple and readily operable.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An adjustable scaffold support comprising clamping means, said clamping means including a pair of U-shaped vise jaws adapted for mutual sliding engagement, said vise jaws being adapted to receive a platform therebetween, screw means engaging each of said vise jaws for selectively positioning the jaws relative to each other to clamp said platform, a pair of upper leg means attached to and extending from one of said vise jaws, a lower leg mounted on each of the upper leg means for movement relative thereto, and latch means mounted on each of said upper leg means for engaging said lower leg to maintain the lower leg in a selected position relative to the upper leg means.

2. An adjustable scaffold support comprising clamping means including two U-shaped vise jaws adapted for mutual sliding engagement, said vise jaws being adapted to receive a platform therebetween, screw means engaging each of said vise jaws, said screw means being adapted for actuation for selectively positioning the jaws to clamp said platform, a pair of leg sleeves secured to one of said jaws, each of said leg sleeves having an elongated central opening, a leg ratch in telescopic engagement within the opening of each of said leg sleeves, said leg ratch having a row of teeth on an edge thereof, and latch means mounted on each of said leg sleeves and engaging the teeth of the leg ratch to maintain the leg ratch in selective position relative to said leg sleeve, said latch means including a foot operated lever mounted for up and down movement.

3. An adjustable scaffold support comprising clamping means including a pair of U-shaped vise jaws adapted for mutual sliding engagement to accommodate a platform of variable width therebetween, a lead screw engaging each of said vise jaws for selectively positioning said jaws relative to each other to clamp said platform, a pair of leg sleeves secured to one of the jaws of said clamping means, each of said leg sleeves having an elongated central opening, a leg ratch positioned in telescopic engagement within said elongated opening of each of said leg sleeves, said leg ratch having a row of teeth on an edge thereof, latch means attached to each of said leg sleeves, each of said latch means including a pivotally mounted pawl adapted to engage said teeth of said leg ratch, resilient means urging the pawl into engagement with said teeth, and means for engaging the pawl with a selected tooth of said ratch for positioning said leg ratch relative to said clamping means.

4. An adjustable scaffold comprising a pair of leg sleeves, each of said leg sleeves having an elongated central opening, a leg ratch in telescopic engagement within the opening of each of said leg sleeves, said leg ratch having a row of teeth on an edge thereof, and latch means mounted on each of said leg sleeves and engaging the teeth of the leg ratch to maintain the leg ratch in selective position relative to said leg sleeve, said latch means comprising a pawl, spring means urging the pawl toward the ratch, and a pivoted outwardly extending foot-operated lever connected to the pawl and mounted in a position to disengage the pawl on downward movement of the lever.

5. Adjustable scaffolding comprising an adjustable scaffold support including upper leg means, lower leg means mounted on the upper leg means for movement relative thereto, each of said lower leg means having a row of teeth on an edge thereof, latch means attached to each upper leg means, each of said latch means including a pivotally mounted pawl adapted to engage said teeth of said lower leg means, resilient means urging the pawl into engagement with said teeth, and means for engaging the pawl with a selected tooth of said lower leg means for positioning lower leg means relative to said clamping means, whereby each of the lower leg means is positioned to accommodate the height of a supporting surface thereunder, said pawl engaging means comprising a pivoted outwardly extending lever, link means connecting the lever to the pawl whereby foot-operated downward movement of the lever actuates the pawl.

6. Adjustabe scaffolding comprising a platform having ends, an adjustable scaffold support detachably mounted to each of said ends of the plank, each of said adjustable supports including two U-shaped vise jaws adapted for mutual sliding engagement to accommodate said platform therebetween, a lead screw engaging each of said vise jaws for selectively positioning said jaws relative to each other to clamp said clamp, and two pairs of adjustable legs rigidly secured to one of said vise jaws, whereby the assembly including both pairs of jaws is adjustable for height.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,761 Tilley Dec. 2, 1902 722,498 Donecker Mar. 10, 1903 880,063 Beilfuss Feb. 25, 1908 1,191,301 Guthat July 18, 1916 1,914,291 Reid June 13, 1933 2,692,176 Miller Oct. 19, 1954 2,859,066 Franklin Nov. 4, 1958 

